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RET H. ERWIN
Vol. 3, p. 1092-1093

A well-known and highly esteemed citizen of Ada, Pontotoc County,
where he is now one of the interested principals of the Pontotoc
County Abstract Company, Mr. Erwin is one of the progressive and
loyal young men who was virtually reared under the primitive
conditions that obtained in the former Indian Territory, and he has
kept pace with the march of progress, has proved a resourceful,
steadfast and reliable citizen and has done his part in the
furthering of civic and material advancement. His high standing in
his home community is indicated by the fact that he served two
consecutive terms as county treasurer of Pontotoc County, a position
from which he retired on the 1st of July, 1915, the provisions of
Oklahoma law being such that no candidate for such county office is
eligible for re-election for a third term.

Mr. Erwin was born in the southeastern part of the state of
Missouri, in the year 1883, and is a son of Joe and Fannie (DAVIS)
Erwin. His father, a native of the State of Tennessee, was one of the
early white settlers of the Chickasaw Nation country of Indian
Territory, and became a prominent and influential factor in the
social, industrial and commercial development of this now favored
section of Oklahoma. He served as a valiant soldier of the
Confederacy during the Civil war and was a resident of Missouri
thereafter until his removal to Indian Territory, where he became a
pioneer settler in the Chickasaw Nation, as previously intimated.

The early education of Ret H. Erwin was obtained in subscription
schools maintained in the Chickasaw Nation and in one of these
undeniably primitive schools, in the Sulphur Springs district of
Pontotoc County, he had a number of Indian children as his fellow-
pupils. He made good use of these meager scholastic advantages and in
broad schools of experience he has effectively rounded out his
education in later years. After Oklahoma was admitted to statehood
Mr. Erwin was appointed deputy clerk of Pontotoc County, and of this
position he continued the incumbent until he was elected county
treasurer, in 1910. His careful and able administration of the fiscal
affairs of the county resulted in his re-election in 1912, and his
record in this important office stands unequivocally to his credit
and to that of the county which he thus served. His brother-in-law,
Lee DAGGS, who has been his assistant in the office of county
treasurer, succeeded him in office and is now in tenure of the
position.

Mr. Erwin accords allegiance to the democratic party, is affiliated
with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
and both he and his wife hold membership in the Baptist Church in
their home city. Mr. Erwin has two brothers and three sisters,
concerning whom the following brief data may consistently be given:
G. A. and P. F. are prosperous farmers near Ada; Mrs. Lee DAGGS is
the wife of the present county treasurer of Pontotoc County; and
Jeanette and Mary are with their brothers.
On the 5th of April, 1913, Mr. Erwin wedded Mrs. Effie BRYANT, of
Ada, and their two children are Lucile and Ret H., Jr. Mrs. Erwin
also has two children by a former marriage, Ambrose Bryant and Marie
Bryant.

Typed for OKGenWeb by: Earline Sparks Barger, November 24, 1998.

[NOTE: Amanda Bryant Bennett [cbnab@mbusa.net] wrote on 19 Oct 1999,
Effie Bryant Erwin is my great aunt. Her brother Melville Bryant is
my Grandfather]